Vandy comments after shutout of Arkansas at SEC Tourney

HOOVER, Ala. – The Commodores opened the SEC Baseball Tournament with a win for the third consecutive year. While it wasn’t pretty from an offensive standpoint, ace Sonny Gray and the defense did the job.

Here is what Gray, Aaron Westlake and Coach Tim Corbin had to say after the 2-0 opening-round victory on Wednesday at Regions Park:

Sophomore pitcher Sonny Gray

On his performance …

“I thought for the most part me and Gio (catcher Andrew Giobbi) were able to execute the game plan. It worked out and we had a big park. They were hitting the ball hard in the early innings and we were making great defensive plays like we’ve done all year.”

On pitching against Arkansas twice in seven days …

“I think tonight they saw my breaking ball a little bit better than they did last Thursday. I got with D.J. (Coach Derek Johnson) and we had to change it up. I started using the change up more and trying to throw fastballs on both sides of the plate. It worked out for us.”

On getting out of jams …

“We didn’t have a problem getting to two strikes, and we didn’t have a problem getting to two outs. And then it just so happened that they came back and fought their butts off. They kept getting runners on base, and it was that one pitch we executed with runners on base that was the difference in the game.”

Sophomore first baseman Aaron Westlake

On his fourth homer in four games …

“It felt good. It’s been feeling good the past couple of days. Just finally finding the stroke that is comfortable for me and allows me to see the ball better and kind of gets me in sync. I had a leg kick at the beginning of the year, struggled just a little bit, went away with it and just came back with it in the series against Arkansas. I just feel very comfortable right now.”

On playing small ball to get the first run …

“We just played team baseball, especially in a park like this. It is hard to get a ball out of here. It’s more of a doubles and triples ballpark. We’re a team of pitching and defense, and manufacturing runs the way we did that first time is what we’re about.”

On opening with a win …

“It’s huge for us, especially the first one. We always do well here. It’s part of our DNA and the nature of our team.”

Coach Tim Corbin

General thoughts on the game …

“It was just a pitching performance tonight. I thought Sonny pitched very well, obviously. Anyone could see that. He was very consistent. The time he ran into trouble in the second inning he got out of it with a couple of strikeouts. It was pitching tonight, pitching and defense. That’s about it.”

On Westlake’s home-run streak …

“We need him to hit during this time. We need that middle of the lineup to hit. That really counted tonight. That home run was definitely a defining moment really because a one-run game … really anything can happen.”

About The Author

Jeff Lockridge

I have been on the Vanderbilt beat since 2009, at The Tennessean since 2000 and a sports journalist since 1997. Prior to Vanderbilt, I covered primarily high schools from 2000-09. My reporting history also includes stints covering the Titans, Auburn and minor league baseball. I'm a Nashville native and a graduate of Overton High (1993) and Austin Peay (1997). I live in Fr